President Museveni’s government has issued a notice communicating its final decision on the demands for increment of salaries by secondary school arts and primary school teachers.
In a letter that Public Service Minister Wilson Muruli Mukasa wrote to Zadok Tumuhimbise, the Chairman of the Uganda National Teachers’ Union (Unatu) on June 30, government has made it clear that while it will continue to value arts teachers, their salaries will not be increased in the 2022-2023 financial year which began today, July 01.
“Therefore, the argument by the Government employed social scientists that they are neglected is not correct. The recovery needs these Government natural scientists immediately in both Government service and, of course, the private. They are needed in the crucial portions of the economy: agriculture, Industry, ICT and some of the services,” the minister wrote.
Minister Muruli Mukasa also reiterated Museveni’s argument on why only scientists have been prioritized.
“The Government intends to enhance the pay of all its employees in the medium and long run as the resources become available through the further expansion of the economic sectors that have already recovered (agriculture, industry, services, ICT),” added Mukasa.
“It is these sectors, as they expand, that will give us the money (in the form of taxes) that will enable us to cover more priorities including paying all the public servants better. Therefore, the President and the top leadership of the Country has considered enhancement of the scientists in FY 2022/23.”
The Public Service Minister has also assured Unatu’s Tumuhimbise that salaries of other government employees will be enhanced in the medium and long term.
“Enhancement of all Teachers and other Teachers in the Public Service shall be included in the medium term in accordance with the approved pay plan,” he continued. “It is better that the immediately needed are paid adequately so that those crucial sections are stablished and continue expending. Therefore go back to work.”
As we have reported earlier, the push by arts teachers to have their salaries increased seems to have ended in tears. (Read Story Here).
Meanwhile, education minister Janet Museveni has told Unatu and its striking teachers that it is easy to replace them, saying there are over 30,000 teachers who are unemployed and willing to replace them. (Read Story Here).
You can read more of our coverage on the arts teachers’ strike below:
MORE STORIES ON ARTS TEACHERS’ STRIKE
In his budget speech read on June 14, Finance Minister Matia Kasaija announced that the salaries of science teachers, scientists and health workers will be increased in a ‘very big’ way starting July 2022. (Read Story Here).
Hours after Minister Kasaija read the budget for the 2022-23 Financial Year indicating a salary increment for teachers of science, arts teachers began their strike, making it clear that all teachers matter. (Read Story Here).
Government held talks with secondary school arts teachers and primary school teachers’ leaders under Unatu. After failing to convince the striking teachers to call off their industrial action, Museveni’s government through Public Service Ministry Permanent Secretary Catherine Bitarakwate Musingwiire, resorted to threatening teachers to either return to class or be fired.
But secondary school arts and primary level teachers under Unatu have fired back at President Museveni’s government, making it clear that threats of being fired will not force them to end their strike. (Read Story Here).
Relatedly, more government employees’ unions have threatened to lay down their tools in solidarity with striking teachers if government fires them, meaning that there could some sort of national shutdown. (Read Story Here).
The amount of money that President Museveni wants each arts teacher to be paid every month — as and when resources become available — has been revealed. (Read Story Here).
READ: VP Jessica Alupo Summons UNATU Leaders for Meeting to End Arts Teachers’ Strike
MORE ON SCIENCE TEACHERS’ SALARY INCREMENT
MORE ON SALARY INCREMENT CIRCUS
In order to improve service delivery and end the challenge of strikes over low pay, President Museveni’s government has proposed huge salary increments for teachers, doctors and other employees starting July 2022. (Read Story Here)
The proposed increments have left many people wondering if government will really fulfill this pledge and increase salaries by very high amounts.
For example, opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye has argued that the promise of salary increment is just ‘another lie.’ (Read Story Here).
Finance Minister Matia Kasaija recently said the money for increasing teachers’, doctors’ and other civil servants’ salaries was available. (Read Story Here).
In August 2021, cabinet approved salary increment for teachers, doctors and other health workers. (Read Story Here).
See the salary structure that had been proposed for the current financial year here.
UPDATED LIST: See Salary Structure for All Government Workers
Meanwhile, an NRM MP has angered teachers after telling them they are too poor to go on strike. (Read Story Here).
